Lid lifter



W. P. JORDAN pm w w.

LID LIFTER Filed May 22, 1948 Patented Sept. 6, 1949 OFFICE LID LIFTER Wesley P. Jordan, Cedar Springs, Mich. Application May 22, 1948, Serial No. 28,676

8 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a lid lifting structure which may be applied to ice-cream cabinets or other holders of merchandise.

It is an object and purpose of the present invention to provide a novel construction wherein two lids, hinged together at adjacent edges, when in alignment may close the upper end of a cabinet or the like, and each be independently lifted to uncover one-half of the cabinet, and each returned to its closed position through two actuating pedals, one for each of the lids, which are foot operated. Furthermore with my invention, a novel lid lifting structure is applied to the cabinet and the lids which are to be lifted, but from which lid lifting structure, the two hinged together lids may be bodily removed when desired to open the entire upper side of the cabinet for access to the interior as, for example, in replenishing merchandise therein. Afterward the lids may be returned to place and connected with the lid lifting apparatus and either lid as selected lifted to uncover its side of the cabinet.

An understanding of the invention may be had from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cabinet supplied with the lids and lid litter of my invention,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged longitudinal section and side elevation, substantially on the plane of line 22 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 3 is afragmentary longitudinal vertical section through the two lids when one has been moved to open position,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the lid lifting apparatus, and

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section and elevation substantially on the plane of line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figures tions are taken looking in the directions indicated by the arrows.

The cabinet I with bottom and vertical sides and ends is open at the top, the top being closed by two lids 2 which have a common hinging connection by hinges 3 on a transverse rod 4. The rod 4 at one end has secured permanently to it in any suitable manner an arc-shaped member of a generally half disk form, with oppositely extending sides 5 to which a vertical arm 6 is connected midway between them, and from the member provided by the parts 5 and 6 a tongue 1 extends in alignment with and at the opposite side of the rod 4, as best shown in Fig. 4.

At a side of the lids '2 and at adjacent ends of the drawing, and the secl,

, sure is. applied tothe other pedal bar,

thereof recesses 8 are made which are together when the lids are in horizontal position (Fig. 2), which are underneath overhanging sections 9 of the lids. In such recesses the generally semicircular disk 5 is disposed, with the arm 6 extending vertically. Thus when the rod 4 is turned in opposite directions one of the lids will be lifted in one direction of turning ofsaidrod 4 and the other in the opposite direction of turningthereof.

A drum I 0 is rotatably mounted between the inner and outer sides of one side of the body of the cabinet I and turns about a horizontal axis, having an axial projection H at one side extending toward the tongue I and provided with the diametric slot I2 into which the tongue 1 is slidably received. On the drum 12 two cables are attached at one end. One of the cables 13 is connected at one end at the back or underside of the drum and extends over it and thence underneath an idle change-direction roller 14. The other cable [5 is secured at one end at the upper side of the drum and leads therefrom to the rear and under it, and thence outwardly in the same direction as the cable f3, both running over changedirection idle pulleys l-G near-a vertical end of the cabinet and thence extending downwardly and connectin at their other ends to twopedal bars 11. Said bars l'! have outer ends projecting beyond the vertical end of the cabinet at which located. The inner end portions extend underneath the cabinet, being pivotally mounted at said inner ends on brackets l8. Thus by applying foot pressure to one of the pedal. bars ll, the drum it! is turned in one direction, and when the presthe drum is turned in the opposite direction. Through the connection of the drum with the rod 4 either one or the other of the lids is lifted by one side 5 of the arc-shaped member engaging underneath the overhanging portion [9 of a lid 2. When turned in the opposite direction the other lid is similarly lifted upwardly. The drum in practice is covered by a sheet metal housing l9.

With a structure as described the two lids joined and hinged together may be lifted bodily by withdrawing the tongue 1 from the slot at 12; and may be replaced by a reversal of such movement. Either lid at will may be selectively lifted by pressure upon the proper pedal bar l1. Any lid when it has been lifted and turned to an open position, as in Fig. 3, is returned to its closed position on operating the other pedal bar to reverse the turning movement of the drum l0, whereupon the arm 6 engaging against the part 9 of the lid which has been lifted, turns the lid back to closed position.

The construction is novel and is very useful for the purposes for which it has been produced.

The invention is defined in the appended claims and is to be considered comprehensive of all forms of structure coming within their scope.

I claim:

1. In a structure of the class described, a cabinet having an open top, two lids hingedly connected together at adjacent edges adapted when extended in the same plane to close said top, a lid lifter appliance mounted at one side of the open top opposite the hinged connection of said lids including a rotatably mounted drum, two independent foot operated means for turning the drum in opposite directions, and interposed means connected with the drum and operatively engageable with each of said lids for lifting one of said lids on turning the drum in one direction and lifting the other lid on turning the drum in opposite direction.

2. A structure as defined in claim 1, said drum at the end thereof adjacent said lids having an axial projection diametrically slotted at its free end, said means operatively engageable with the lids having a projecting tongue received in said slot whereby the lids may be bodily removed from the cabinet and from connection with said drum.

3. In a structure of the class described, a cabinet having an open top, two lids adapted to close the open end of the top when located in alignment in the same plane, a horizontal rod at the adjacent edges of said lids, means hingedly connecting the lids to the rod, a member permanently secured at one end of the rod having two normally horizontally disposed oppositely extending parts, said lids having recesses at their adjacent edges with overhanging portions one on each lid over said recesses, said oppositely projecting parts extending into said recesses underneath the overhanging portions, and rotatable means mounted on the cabinet connected with said member, rotation of said means in one direction turning the rod and. lifting one lid and rotation in the opposite direction oppositely turning said rod and lifting the other lid.

4. A structure as defined in claim 3, said rotatably mounted means comprising, a horizontal drum mounted on the cabinet having an axial projection extending toward said member on the rod, means detachably connecting said axial projection with said member secured to the rod, and two independent foot operated means connected with the drum for rotating the drum in opposite directions.

5, A structure as defined in claim 3, said rotatable means comprising, a drum mounted on the cabinet to turn about a horizontal axis, said drum having an axial projection extending toward said member on the rod, said axial projection having a normally located vertical slot at its inner end, and said member having a normally vertically located tongue secured thereto extending into said slot and removable therefrom with said lids in an upward direction.

6. A structure as defined in claim 3, said rotatable means comprising, a drum mounted to turn on a horizontal axis and having an axial projection extending towards said member and connected therewith, two cables connected at one end to said drum, one leading from the upper side of the drum rearwardly and thence under the drum and the other from the lower side of the drum and upwardly over the drum, said cables extending horizontally toward one end of the cabinet, means for changing direction of the cables downwardly toward the bottom of the cabinet, and two foot levers pivotally mounted at their inner ends on the cabinet and extending outwardly to which said cables are connected between the ends of the levers.

7. A structure as defined in claim 3, said member secured at the end of said rod having a normally vertically extending arm between said oppositely extending horizontal parts.

8. A cabinet having an open upper end, two lids adapted to be located in the same horizontal plane to close the upper open end of the cabinet, means for hingedly connecting said ids at their adjacent edges, a rotatable lid lifter mounted on the cabinet at one side thereof, connections between said lid lifter and the lids for lifting one lid on rotation of the rotatable member in one direction and lifting the other lid on rotatable movement in the opposite direction, two independent foot operated means for rotating said lid lifter in opposite directions, and means for closing a lid which has been lifted and opened by foot operation of the lever opposite from that operated in lifting the lid.

WESLEY P. JORDAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 

